1908.] 



BIEDS. 



349 



During the summer of 1901 we observed the first sharp-tailed 

 grouse referred to this form near Poplar Point, 90 miles below Fort 

 McMurray, May 16. when we saw one flying across the Athabaska. 

 AVe saw several and took one near Fort Chipewj^an June 1. After this 

 we did not again see the bird until we reached Fort Smith, where we 

 found it common and observed it daily June 19 to 28. An adult was 

 taken on June 21 and a young one a few days old on June 27. The 

 birds were abundant at Trout Rock July 16 and 17. Several broods 

 of young were seen at Fort Eae July 19 to 29, and two were taken 

 July 19. On our return trip a few old birds were seen on Smith 

 Portage August 5. 



In 1903 this species was reported to occur at Hay River, and eggs 

 taken about June 1 were shown in. support of the assertion. It was 

 reported common on the tipper reaches of Hay River. I first ob- 

 served it on the eastern shore of the Xorthern Arm of Great Slave 

 Lake, 40 miles south of Trout Rock, July 24. At Fort Rae a brood of 

 young, accompanied by the parents, was seen July 28. One bird was 

 noted on the lower part of Grandin River August 1. The species 

 was not again detected until we reached the rapid on Bear River, 

 September 29, Avhere it was common. It was abiuidant and appar- 

 ently migrating at Fort Xorman October 1, and between there and 

 Gravel River October 2 and 3. A few were noted near Fort Wrigley 

 October 11, and above Xahanni River October 15. During the 

 autumn of 1003 the sjDecies was occasionally observed at Fort Simp- 

 son, and a number were collected. Their crops and stomachs usually 

 contained nothing but the catkins of alders {Alnus alnohetula and 

 incana)^ but one shot November 7 had eaten also a few berries of 

 Vihumum pa ycifornm . 



During January and February, 1904, I did not observe the species 

 at Fort Simpson. I saw two on March 12, and others during the 

 latter part of the month, noting 10 in a flock on March 24. During 

 April the birds are said to dance on the crusted snow, but by that 

 time they again had become rare in the vicinity, probably having 

 moved northward, and I had no opportunity to observe the habit. 

 During my voyage down the Mackenzie I failed to note the species, 

 though it is said to occur at all the posts north to Fort McPherson. 



This bird was first recorded from the region by Richardson^ who 

 gave a description of a male killed at Great Slave Lake in November, 

 1826.° He afterwards traced the species as far north as the delta of 

 the Mackenzie.'^ Ross listed it as occurring in the Mackenzie River 

 region north to Fort Good Hope, and as wintering in the region.^ 



« Fauna Boreali-Americana, II, p. 362, 1831. 

 * Arctic Searching Expedition, I, p. 179, 1851. 

 cxat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 283, 1862. 



